Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Great Work Is Finished

I typed the last words last night and then let my fingers hover over the keyboard for a few moments, savouring the slightly shocking sound of silence.

I can’t quite believe it. I’ve lived with this story and the characters for such a long time it now feels weird to be without them. But there is nowhere left for them to go. Nothing more for them to say. Their day is done.

And it feels good. This is the biggest writing project I’ve ever undertaken. I started a novel once before in my twenties but it petered out half way through and that failure was always a source of chagrin. It’s nice to have exorcized that particular ghost and proved to myself that I can see a narrative through to the very end.

But of course this isn’t the end. This is merely the beginning of the end. I now have to contend with the rewrites, the read throughs, the asking other people to read it and eventually the submission process. Writing the first draft was the easy part.

And so this is a heads-up to all my dear blog readers. Sometime over the next few months, I’m not sure quite when, I shall be asking for volunteers to read the damned thing. I’m not expecting reams of technical feedback or in-depth analysis, just a simple “yes I liked it” or a “no, it was crap” will do (though any technical stuff would be appreciated).

I’m not going to post it on-line for download but anyone who is foolhardy interested can email me and I will gladly email them a copy. I’m not expecting to be inundated with requests but I figure that at the very least a couple of you might be bored enough to want to read it. Go on, I’m letting you in on the ground floor of the next big thing here...

As a thank you I will ensure that you get a glittering mention on the acknowledgments page... (there, I’m sure that’s clinched it for you).

In the meantime, big spender that I am, I’m going to treat myself to a chocolate bar. A Boost Duo. I think I’ve earnt it.

43 comments:

When you said the characters' day is done, does that mean you killed them all off at the end ? In any case, I think that is amazing that you wrote 300 pages, and given your renowned writing skills, honed to rapier sharp edges in these blog posts, I cannot imagine it is anything other than gripping... I'd be curious to know what it is about... and whether there are any Somalian pirates in the plot. Am not quite ready to commit right this second to volunteering to read it all, as time is a terrible phenomenon these days, but who knows, you may get an e-mail from me yet... (this is using one tool from the novelist's toolkit known as : suspense)

Bravo ! So all in the same year you finished your degree at school, you completed a novel, you swept up new fans with scintillating writing on the blog, you swept up full stop after barbarians who do foul things outside you place of work at night, you flew hawks from your sleeve, you braved thugs in the street and their vicious dogs, you had many adventures as a parent of two energetic young boys ... my goodness, now you just need a new pair of pants, in which to go meet your new publisher !!!

Oh wow, it's finished. Congratulations, Steve! You'll have to go and buy another two pairs of trousers now I expect after the excitement of completion.

I'm game to read depending on when exactly you will want it doing. But I'm not after an acknowledgement - I'm a low profile person me and having my name in a book at the top of the bestseller list wouldn't be quite the thing.

Owen: regarding the characters - that would be telling! As to what it's about I don't want to give too much away as I'd quite like people to read it blind. All I'll say is, it's called The Book Of Ouroboros and leave people to surmise as they will... If you fancy a butcher's please do drop me a line...!

Gina: that's very kind of you. I want to read it all through and tweak it first before sending it out so envisage that taking a couple or months or three depending on progress. I shall nag people again nearer the time! I might be a better man but you're a better woman... which is precisely how things are meant to be! ;-)

Nota Bene: weirdly the sticking points for me were about halfway through and the last couple of chapters... other than that, while it didn't exactly flow unimpeded from my pen, it did at least leak out at a good rate!

Oh Steve, I am so proud of you. Only this afternoon I've been reading an interview with John Irving who says how he falls into a state of depression when a book is finished - he hates saying goodbye to the characters. I suppose you feel a bit like this.

I'm the slowest reader in the world - else I would gladly volunteer to read it through for you. I'd still be reading the first draft by the time it was out on the bookshelves.

Rol: half the battle indeed... I'm just realizing that maybe the great work isn't quite as finished as I'd first thought...!

FF: I'm not so much depressed as a bit "floaty". I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet. I was getting to the point though where I wanted to say goodbye to the characters so I think the end coming when it did was perfect timing. As for Tomgate... it was actually Bengate but I know what you mean and who you are referring to! He he he! ;-) Will log into Facebook asap and respond accordingly!

Wow congratulations Steve. I for one love your writing so count me in for a read. I hibernate over the summer months so that would be a good time for me to read though you might not be ready by then. Sing out again closer to the time and I'll let you know. Not that I have any literacy skills whatsoever to offer a professional critique but I can certainly represent the average Joe Blogs.

Congratulations, Steve ... it's a wonderful feeling when those last words are typed. I went through mine about five times before I was reasonably satisfied and even then I could have edited the thing a bit more. As it's a man's book I'd plump for a male 'editor' if I were you, but as I'm not you it doesn't matter.... grins.

Congrats Steve, I have booked the hutch for when you do your Tour Down Under and Over A Bit. I'll volunteer cos nothing ever happens down this way....and I suspect the only way I ever get my name in books is when I buy them and put my name in. Well done, you!!

I'm hooked! I'm an avid and good reader, I've even tried writing a... let's just call it crap.. once or twice - and only got 10-20 pages done, 10-20 years ago!

That's got a bit to do with a rock n roll delusion and just a smidgen of booze and pot - but being a sensitive pansy it almost did me in - until recently - and I've already written my second blog

Whoopeedoo... stunned back in a maze... meant to say, stunted but still a few green shoots and a lotless blewfused

Two whole days of scratching out the scribbles and re-scribbling them - and still it's a load of cobblersgook, take a look if you please. Please, please let us have have a read, Steve - youill probably be sorry but I'll pay the postage and you could always ignore any feedback or other whiney voices that came straighjacket out of the hoarse cess mouse

please drop me a line wither yay or a neigh and atjollyokay@gmail.com

Wee Danes can be a bit foward, so Uhm not sorry to bother you if seek what I mean

Missbehaving: 9 years? Wow. Maybe I've not been so slow after all... mind you the rewrites might take another 2 (hope not). When the time comes I shall contact you again and send you a copy. Thank you!

Well done, Steve!!! I remember when you started this - some of it is set in Stockwell, isn't it? (But minus Beverley Craven, sadly). I'd love to read it - and I'm not just saying that cos I'm an English graduate/teacher either. I know you are an accomplished writer and a real wordsmith (that constantly comes across in your blog) so the prospect of reading a whole Stevenage novel fills me with even more interest.

Selina: stylishly late is fine! As I've said above, once I've spent some time tweaking (and removing embarrassing mistakes) I shall send a copy to all those who have been gracious enough to request one! Thank you.